The cultural and intellectual legacy of Greater Greece—the coastal areas of Southern Italy and Sicily settled by Hellenes in the 8th and 7th centuries BCE—is often overlooked in academic studies. Yet evidence suggests that poets, playwrights, philosophers, and many other maverick intellectuals found fertile ground here for the growth of their ideas and the harvesting of their work. The goal of this conference and of the Fonte Aretusa organization is to revive the inspirational link between the new and old worlds of Greece and to explore its intellectual wealth.

Our inaugural conference will take place in Siracusa—the cultural center of Greater Greece known by Epicharmus, Empedocles, Plato, Aeschylus, Sappho, Theocritus, Archimedes, Cicero and many others. It will include guided tours of local archaeological and cultural sites, communal meals, and the possibility to witness live performances in the ancient Greek theater by the National Institute for Ancient Drama. Optional excursions to ancient sites nearby such as Agrigento (Akragas), and the Villa del Casale will be arranged.

The official languages of the conference will be English, Italian, and Greek. Proposals for individual paper presentations, panel discussions, and creative presentations related to any aspect of the cultural heritage of Greater Greece are welcome. Abstracts for papers should be 150-300 words in length and prepared for blind review. Proposals for panel discussions or creative presentations should include contact information for all participants and detail any special facilities (i.e. digital projector) needed. Presentation times will range from 20 minutes for individual papers to 90 minutes for panel discussions. The deadline for initial consideration will be February 15, 2105. Additional abstracts and proposals may be accepted after that date as long as space permits. Digital publication of the proceedings is planned.